Release Detail

December 15, 2004 - U.S. Voters Favor Death Penalty 2 - 1,
Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds;
But Voters Prefer Life Without Parole Over Death

When asked if they "favor" or "oppose" the death penalty for persons convicted of murder,
American voters favor the death penalty 62 - 29 percent, according to a Quinnipiac
University national poll released today.

But when offered a choice of punishment, voters prefer life without parole over the
death penalty 46 - 42 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University
poll finds. Among religious groups, Catholics who attend church services weekly prefer life
without parole 66 - 22 percent. Protestant weekly church-goers split 43 - 43 percent.
Those who never attend religious services prefer the death penalty 47 - 42 percent.

Looking at the abortion issue, the strongest opposition is among Catholic and
Protestant weekly church-goers, while the strongest support is among those who never attend
services. Among all American voters:

16 percent say abortion should be legal in all cases;

41 percent say abortion should be legal in most cases;

26 percent say abortion should be illegal in most cases;

13 percent say abortion should be illegal in all cases.

"On the hot-button issue of the death penalty, it depends on how you ask the question.
Americans favor the death penalty, but when offered the choice of locking someone up
forever, but not killing them, they shift to the life option," said Maurice Carroll, Director of
the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Devout Catholics must be listening to their bishops: Voters who go to Mass every
week prefer life without parole over the death penalty 3 - 1, and they are strongest in their
opposition to abortion," Carroll added.

By a 62 - 32 percent margin American voters say a person nominated to sit on the
U.S. Supreme Court should publicly state his/her position on abortion.

And voters say 50 - 34 percent that President George W. Bush should nominate
Supreme Court justices who would uphold the Roe v. Wade decision making abortion legal in
the first three months of pregnancy.

"By a big majority, Americans want to know in advance how a Supreme Court nominee
would vote on Roe v. Wade. And half of the voters want that nominee to uphold the historic
abortion ruling," Carroll said.

In another issue working its way through the legal system, American voters oppose 51
- 45 percent a law to legalize same sex civil unions. By an even bigger 65 - 31 percent
margin, voters oppose a law allowing for same sex marriages. Voters who attend religious
services weekly oppose same sex marriage 82 - 15 percent, while those who never attend
services support same sex marriage 49 - 46 percent.

"Even the half-way measure, legalization of same sex civil unions, loses. Americans
don't support same sex civil unions or marriage, but they don't want to tinker with the
Constitution on this issue," Carroll said.

From December 7 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,529 registered voters
nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and nationwide
as a public service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the United States Supreme Court
is handling its job? (* All adults)

App Dis DK/NA

Dec 15, 2004 50 33 17
Mar 5, 2003* 56 28 17

TREND: Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases,
illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? (* All adults)

16. The 1973 Supreme Court ruling called Roe. V. Wade made abortion in the first
three months of pregnancy legal. Do you think President Bush should nominate
Supreme Court justices who would uphold the Roe. V. Wade decision, or nominate
Supreme Court justices who would overturn the Roe v. Wade decision?

17. Do you think the next person nominated to join the United States Supreme
Court should or should not publicly state his or her position on abortion
before being approved by the U.S. Senate for the job?